Licensed to judge.

The Five – An Intro

Hey folks. You may (or more likely, may not) have noticed that I’ve been in a serious blogging hiatus lately. That’s been due to equal parts work, lack of time, and good ol’ fashioned writer’s block. But I’ve missed this a lot, and I want to try something to get back in a groove. Hence, this post.

For as long as I can keep it up, I’m going to try to make at least one post a day that includes Five things: a Photo of mine, a Memory, a Shared idea from something I read or heard, a Thanks/appreciation, and something fresh and New. These won’t necessarily be political things – in fact, most probably won’t be. If you’re just here for the politics, then you may just want to hope that I come around quickly and start unleashing my inner conservative warrior with relish again soon. Otherwise, enjoy my attempt at structured writing to kick me out of my doldrums. Don’t be surprised if this is more intermittent than I am hoping, but I’ll do my best. And now, the Five.

A Photo

Waterfalls are probably my favorite natural feature. This is the top of one of the finest waterfall canyons I've ever walked: Johnston Canyon, in Banff, Alberta.

A Memory

This picture was taken only two days after I was involved in a serious car accident while on vacation in the Canadian Rockies. It resulted in the death of the two motorcyclists who hit our car but thankfully no serious injuries to my family. It was shockingly sudden, both how the event destroyed our family holiday, and how we were back on vacation within 24 hours, with a new car, a revised itinerary, and a renewed (if distracted) focus on some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve witnessed. While the accident affected all of us (my stepdad just signed the settlement with the insurance company this month, 2 years later), I’m pleased that we were strong enough to marshal on and enjoy the remainder of the vacation. It’s a reminder that tragedy can strike at any time, and that the world in its wonder continues, with or without us. It’s up to us to choose to rejoin it.

A Share

Michael Barone’s article on the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) guidance on campus justice reminds us how far from “liberal” thought our liberal overlords have taken us. Having myself participated in the campus justice system of my alma mater, I can speak to the desire of student justices and representatives to treat their fellow students fairly. What often gets lost, however, is how administrators can’t help but use the system for their own agendas. Campuses all across the country have used seemingly-innocuous conduct rules to attack the Greek system, excoriate Christian groups, and chill free speech by conservative students. The OCR letter is aimed at making it easier to do just that, and it shows us that liberals’ work will never be done until they brainwash reform collegiate communities into perfect shadowboxes of their ideology. Voltaire would not be pleased.

A Thanks

A belated thanks to USAA, Hertz, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for making the awful hours after the accident described above easier than I ever could have imagined. Each of them went out of their way to help us move quickly beyond the tragedy.

Something New

Are we over-automating in some areas of our life? I’m no Luddite, and I love my iPad and XM Radio as much as the next guy. But sometimes I think of my electric toothbrush sometimes and wonder, really? I brushed my teeth just fine for the first 30 years of my life – no cavities even! Is this something I need to plug into the grid for? Same with my grocery list app on my iPad. I found myself using a LOT more time the other day trying to get exactly what I needed typed into my tablet, when less than half the effort would have created a perfectly-acceptable, pencil-scribbled list to take to the supermarket.

We’re always in the midst of questioning whether some of the time/space/material saving devices of our recent past are really better for us – think reusable grocery bags. And regardless of whether you think global warming is upon us or a ginned-up conspiracy to take away your luxury shower head, energy costs money and resources. So maybe before you choose to add that next app to our smartphone because you can, consider whether it’s a smart or dumb way to perform that task. It may save you time and money in the end.

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2 Responses

Hi Marque! I’m delighted to see you back blogging and relieved that your unfortunate experience did not result in dire consequences for you and your loved ones. How true it is that we are always a mere step away from potential disaster – and yet we are wise not to dwell on imagined catastrophes but instead try to focus on the positive things that our lives offer us.

My current martial arts activities continually remind me that there is a wide gulf between our modern, constricted, schedule-driven lives and the alternative of contemplative, craftsmanship-orientated, goal-achieving approach to life that places the highest value on doing ones best to deal with challenges without regard to the time involved.

Your new format would seem to lend itself to serious reflection and I am looking forward to the next post.

Thanks Maine. I’m conflicted as to whether this contemplative kind of post fits with the larger format. I enjoy writing this way, but I may have to start another blog to keep from confusing my politically-minded readers. Thanks for the encouragement, though! Hopefully I’ll be back at this more regularly, regardless of whether it’s my introspective or polemical self!